PREVENTING AND RESPONDING
TO ABUSE

This document summarizes current Church policies and guidelines on abuse.
All priesthood and auxiliary leaders should be familiar with and follow them
to help protect God’s children.

What Is Abuse?

The Abuse Help Line

Abuse is the mistreatment or neglect of others
(such as a child or spouse, the elderly, or
the disabled) in a way that causes physical,
emotional, or sexual harm.

For some years, the Church has operated a free
and confidential abuse help line, 1-800-453-3860,
ext. 2-1911, established for bishops and stake
presidents in the United States and Canada. In
other areas, bishops who learn of possible abuse
should contact their stake presidents, who will
seek guidance from the Area Presidency.

Abuse causes confusion, doubt, mistrust, and
fear in the victims and sometimes inflicts physical
injury. Most, but not all, allegations of abuse are
true, and should be taken seriously and handled
with great care. Abuse tends to become more
severe over time.
The Lord condemns abusive behavior in any
form—including neglect and physical, sexual, or
verbal abuse. Most abuse violates the civil laws of
society. (See First Presidency letter, “Responding
to Abuse,” July 28, 2008.)
Teaching Doctrine
Stake presidencies and bishoprics should ensure
that what they say about abuse is based on
Church doctrine. In particular, they should teach
the following:
•  The doctrine of the Church commits all
leaders and members to protect each
individual (see Matthew 18:6; Ephesians 5:25,
28–29; “The Family: A Proclamation to the
World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145).
•  Abuse in any form is sinful, tragic, and in total
opposition to the teachings of the Savior
(see Doctrine and Covenants 121:37).
•  The Savior extends succor, healing, and
strength to victims of abuse because of His
infinite and eternal Atonement (see Alma
7:11–12; 34:10).
•  Those who commit abuse in any way are
accountable to God (see Doctrine and
Covenants 101:78). Heavenly Father and
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The following information will help bishops and
stake presidents use this help line:
•  This help line is available for bishops and
stake presidents to call 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, when addressing situations
involving any type of abuse.
•  The bishop or stake president should
promptly call the help line about every
situation in which he believes a person may
have been abused or neglected or is at risk of
being abused or neglected.
•  When bishops or stake presidents call the help
line, legal and clinical professionals will answer
their questions and provide instructions about
how to assist victims, comply with local laws
and requirements for reporting abuse, and
protect against further abuse.
For more information, see Handbook 1, 17.3.2.
His Son offer forgiveness to those who have
committed abuse when they change their
behavior and fully repent (see Mosiah 14:4–12;
Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43).
•  The principles in “The Family: A Proclamation
to the World” are vital for all members to
understand and will help everyone avoid the
evils of abuse (see Gordon B. Hinckley, “Save
the Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 52–54).

 Key Messages
How Can Abuse Be Prevented?

At Home
Church leaders should do the following to help
prevent abuse in the home:
•  Encourage couples and families to live the
gospel in the home. They should establish
patterns of kindness, respect, and open
communication so that all family members
are comfortable discussing sensitive matters
(see “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,”
Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145).
•  Encourage parents to teach children
information and skills appropriate to their age
and maturity so they will know what to do if
faced with abuse.
•  Make members aware of these publications:
Preventing and Responding to Spouse Abuse:
Helps for Members (1997) and Preventing and
Responding to Child Abuse: Helps for Members
(1997).

At Church
Church leaders should follow these guidelines to
help prevent abuse at Church:
•  A person must not be given a Church calling
or assignment that involves working with
children or youth if his or her membership
record is not in the ward or if it has an
annotation for abuse (see Handbook 1: Stake
Presidents and Bishops [2010], 17.3.2).
•  When adults are teaching children or youth
in Church settings, at least two responsible
adults should be present. The two adults could
be two men, two women, or a married couple
(see Handbook 2: Administering the Church
[2010], 11.8.1). Where it may not be practical to
have at least two adults in a classroom, leaders
should consider combining classes.
•  At least two adults must be present on
all Church-sponsored activities attended
by youth or children. All adult leaders
participating in Scouting must be registered
with the Boy Scouts of America (see First
Presidency letter, May 12, 2017) and comply
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with guidelines in the BSA publication Guide to
Safe Scouting.
•  When a brother participates in a ministering
visit to an individual woman, he should go
with his companion or with his wife.
•  When a member of a stake presidency or
bishopric or another assigned leader meets
with a child, youth, or woman, he or she
should ask a parent or another adult to be in
an adjoining room, foyer, or hall. If the person
being interviewed desires, another adult
may be invited to participate in the interview.
Leaders should avoid all circumstances that
could be misunderstood (see Handbook 1, 7.4).
•  On Church-sponsored overnight activities,
a child or youth may not stay in the tent or
room of an adult leader unless the adult is
his or her parent or guardian or there are at
least two adults in the tent or room who are
the same gender as the child or youth (see
Handbook 2, 13.6.12).
•  If adult leaders and children or youth share
other overnight facilities, such as a cabin,
there must be at least two adults in the facility
and they must be the same gender as the
children or youth (see Handbook 2, 13.6.12).
Responding to Abuse
(See Handbook 1, 17.3.2)
Church leaders and members should follow these
guidelines when responding to abuse:
•  When abuse occurs, the first and immediate
responsibility of Church leaders is to help
those who have been abused and to protect
vulnerable persons from future abuse.
Members should never be encouraged to
remain in a home or situation that is abusive
or unsafe.
•  Church leaders and members should be
caring, compassionate, and sensitive when
working with victims and perpetrators and
their families.
•  Church leaders should never disregard a
report of abuse or counsel a member not to
report criminal activity to law enforcement
personnel.

 •  Church leaders and members should fulfill
all legal obligations to report abuse to civil
authorities.

•  For guidelines on handling situations involving
abuse, stake presidents and bishops should
refer to Handbook 1, 17.3.2.

•  Priesthood leaders should help those who
have committed abuse to repent and cease
their abusive behavior (see Isaiah 1:18;
Doctrine and Covenants 64:7).

•  For guidelines on handling confession,
restitution, investigation, communication
with aggrieved victims, and confidentiality in
situations involving abuse, stake presidents
and bishops should refer to Handbook 1,
6.4 and 6.5.

•  Professional counseling may be helpful
for the victims and perpetrators and their
families. It is almost always advised in cases
of serious abuse.
Teaching Stake and Ward Councils

•  For guidelines on handling Church discipline
in situations involving abuse, stake presidents
and bishops should refer to Handbook 1,
chapter 6.

Stake presidencies and bishoprics should
present this information in stake and ward
council meetings. Members of stake and ward
councils should then discuss this material in their
respective presidency and leadership meetings
and with others, as needed. They should:

•   Church leaders should not testify in civil or
criminal cases involving abuse without first
conferring with the Office of General Counsel
at Church headquarters, 1-800-453-3860,
ext. 2-6301. For specific guidelines, see
Handbook 1, 17.1.26.

•  Teach the key messages in this outline and
invite discussion from adult priesthood and
auxiliary leaders. As part of the discussion,
they might begin by watching the video
Protect the Child: Responding to Child Abuse,
found under “Abuse: Help for the Victim”
(ministeringresources.lds.org). Because this
information is sensitive, they should seek the
guidance of the Spirit as they teach.
•  Often a report of abuse will come to a trusted
teacher or adviser. Members of stake and
ward councils should help leaders, teachers,
and members take proper steps in preventing
and responding to abuse, including reporting
the abuse to appropriate civil authorities.
Policy and Legal Issues Relating to Abuse
The following guidelines will help Church leaders
handle policy and legal issues relating to abuse:
•  Immediately call the help line at 1-800-4533860, ext. 2-1911, when addressing situations
involving any type of abuse.

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Other Resources
•  “Abuse: Help for the Victim,”
ministeringresources.lds.org
•  “Abuse: Help for the Offender,”
ministeringresources.lds.org
•  Articles of Faith 1:12
•  Doctrine and Covenants 121; 123
•  Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to
Exercise the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2002,
52–59
•  Gordon B. Hinckley, “What Are People Asking
about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 70–72
•  Dallin H. Oaks, “Priesthood Authority in the
Family and the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2005, 24–27
•  Richard G. Scott, “To Heal the Shattering
Conse­­quences of Abuse,” Ensign or Liahona,
May 2008, 40–43
•  LDS Family Services courses Strengthening
Marriage and Strengthening the Family

© 2018 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. English approval: 8/17. PD60004798